Celebrating 2018 – A Year In Review

2018 was another busy year for our team at MASS Environmental Services Inc., and we couldn’t have accomplished all that we have without the loyal support of our valued clients. We are so grateful for the ongoing commitment to waste diversion that our clients demonstrate day-in, and day-out. We are eternally inspired by everything that they do, and we are honoured to work with them.

We also want to express our sincere appreciation for each member of the ‘MASS Team.’ As a family owned and operated business, we consider every person on our team a part of the greater ‘MASS Family,’ and it is through their work ethic and commitment to excellence that our company continues to grow and flourish.

In the spirit of celebration of the past twelve months, we have highlighted a few key moments from this past year to share with our readers as we say goodbye to 2018.

Here We Grow Again …

This year saw immense growth for our company, and with that came the addition of new faces to our team. In April, we welcomed Alexsandra Handerer (or Alex H, as she gets called around the office). Alex looks after day-to-day customer service coordination for grease trap and used cooking oil services. Shortly afterward, Patricia Strasbourg joined us, with responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day needs of all non-hazardous waste needs of our clients. In September, we were particularly excited to welcome Katie Noyes back to our team. Katie first became a part of the MASS family when she was a high school student and completed her co-op with us in our old office back in Lakefield back in 2015. She has now completed her college education at Fanshawe College, and has joined us full-time looking after daily operations for select major accounts. Lastly, in October, Cassandra Wallace joined our team as Administrative Coordinator, taking on responsibility for invoice auditing and more, all in the effort for continued cost control for each of our clients.

Putting the Planet First

As always, MASS is committed to protecting our environment in order to leave behind a healthy and thriving earth for the next generation. This year, we launched diversion protocol for each of our clients in Metro Vancouver to eliminate styrofoam products from both landfill and recycling, as well as began preparations for eliminating one-time-use take-out containers and plastic straws. We partnered with Habitat for Humanity to enable our clients to divert their old furniture and other items from landfill while giving back to their communities. We completed more than 300 Waste Audits across the country, updating our Waste Audit protocols and providing clients with the most advanced Waste Reduction Work Plans with applicable target actions for their businesses. One of these Waste Audits actually happened at Holy Trinity School, during which we engaged with students, empowering the next generation to become truly aware of their environmental footprint. Lastly, we must mention the work we’ve been doing with our clients to prepare for the organics landfill ban in the Province of Ontario in 2022. As we work to future-proof our clients operations, they can rest assured that they are doing the right thing for both the earth and their business.

Continued Education

This year, MASS had staff complete various educational certificates including the TRUE Zero Waste Advisor Certification, the Recycling Council of Ontario Waste Audit Training, and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Excel Essentials for Management certificate. Mac Brown received High Honours in his RCO Certification, and Erik Varner received honours. We are so proud of each of our staff members who took advantage of these educational opportunities this year, and we look forward to continuing to support our team in professional growth and development going forward.

Giving Back

MASS is proud to be a part of the Northumberland County community and was thrilled to sponsor the Kids Run for Nature World Wildlife Fund event again this year. We’ve also partnered with our clients throughout the country this year to support their charitable initiatives, working together to have a larger impact. This Holiday Season, we’ve chosen to make a corporate donation to the Cobourg Salvation Army Community Response Vehicle, which is a mobile unit that travels throughout our region to where they are needed most. They serve the most vulnerable members of our community, giving them a hot meal, and ensuring they are taken care of in an incredibly important way. We are thrilled to support such an imperative organization, and look forward to continuing to give back to our local and global communities in the future.

Always Evolving

This year, our company expanded physically as well, with new added office space that has now been converted into our MASS Education Centre. We look forward to hosting events and educational sessions in this space at our Willmott Street office. We are also now offering webinars to our clients in order to educate and engage their staff on a more consistent basis through the use of technology.

A Vested Interest in the Success of Our Clients

If you’ve heard anyone from our team talk about our Company Values you’ve heard us say that we ‘maintain a vested interest in the success of our clients.’ This is true in everything that we do! This year, we were proud to support Revera at the Canadian Managed Business Vendor Tradeshow in January, and Jarlette at their Education Day in May. We were thrilled to support Kensington Health Centre on their staff education day in May, and we excitedly congratulated Carleton Universty on their Gold Award in Waste Management from the NACUFS. We were thrilled to launch two new Rocket Composters at Seneca College, all while completing our largest ever RFQ for nationwide waste and recycling services on behalf of our clients. MASS is thrilled to support each of our clients in all their endeavors and continues to work with the mindset that their success is our ultimate goal.

Get Social

This year, MASS grew our social media presence by refocusing our strategy for our Facebook Page, Twitter Account, and launching a new Instagram. We invite you to follow us on each of these accounts for up-to-date information about the MASS team and all that we do. We’ve also launched the MASS blog (which you are reading right now!) and look forward to continue sharing informative and valuable posts with you in the new year.

Family First

This year was an incredibly exciting one for the Brown Family, with the addition of a new member through marriage! Our Operations Manager Alex married her new husband, Nate Card, and the Brown Family couldn’t be happier to have him become a part of the squad. The wedding was absolutely beautiful, and actually involved a number of MASS Team Members. Special Projects Manager, Heather Varner was the Maid of Honour; Waste Audit Manager, Mac Brown was a Groomsman; and of course, Company President, George Brown walked the breathtaking bride down the aisle, where she hugged her mom, Vice-President Marnie Brown, before saying her ‘I do’s.’ With our Advisory Board and the MASS team in attendance, it truly was a company affair, and we were so happy to have everyone be a part of this special day.

Speaking Out

Again in 2018, MASS was a corporate sponsor for Sustainable Cobourg, and our Special Projects Manager, Heather Varner was thrilled to be their guest speaker at their Annual General Meeting this November. This year, George Brown was the keynote speaker at the Rocket Launch at the Villa Angela Ursuline Sisters residence. If you haven’t watched his awesome speech yet, check it out below!

Thank you for being a part of our 2018 adventures. We are so grateful that you’ve followed along and been a valuable part of what we do. We look forward to continuing to connect in 2019. From our family to yours, we wish you a happy, healthy, and save new year.